2 DIN Nissan Micra Installation

Fri, 14/09/2012 - 22:21 -- Remiguel

Here goes a step by step to install a 2 DIN radio in place of the stock one, in a Nissan Micra (March) 2011 with a BT radio with steering wheel control. I bought the 2 DIN radio at this online shop. You have to take care, because lot of radio seem to be identical (front panel, buttons etc) but they don't use the same processor neither have the same amount of RAM memory. It is always better to ask by mail before placing your order.

Remove the stock radio

You have to take out the cockpit front panel. This part is not fastened by mean of screws but with mix steel/plastic fasteners. Tools to be used must be semi-soft plastic ones. Steel tools are really to avoid.

I personally have used a PVC thin part.

The most difficult step is to know in advance where the fasteners are. Following 2 pictures are showing the exact situation of all fasteners:

In order to remove the front panel without damage, pry gently with a plastic ruler or a PVC part to separate the front panel from the cockpit. Start in the area shown with a red rectangle. As soon you have enough gap pull the part out, with your fingers, taking care to not deformed the front panel. When the first fastener is out, the others are really easy to remove. The fastener identified with a red rectangle has no ribs around, therefore easier to pry in this area without damaging the cockpit and front panel.

Fastener area detail

Remove the radio

The radio is fastened with 4 cross screws (shown by arrows) and 2 fasteners (under the circles).

Remove the 4 screws and pull the radio to you, to remove the 2 fasteners from their holes. Unplug the 3 connectors from the radio.

Unmount the 2 sides brackets and screw them on the new 2 DIN.

To connect:

the adaptor from the connector 3 of the the radio to the ISO connector of the car.

the output of the steering wheel command from the connector 2 to the input plug of the cable set 3.

an USB extension cord, on the USB connector of the cable set 2.

the video backup camera extension cord on the CCD in of the cable set 2.

the iPod cord on the connector 4.

the GPS cable on the connector 5.

the adaptor from the ISO antenna to the grey antenna connector from the car.

In my case I don't need the cable set 1, I remove it to avoid all these plugs to move freely inside the cockpit (avoid the noise).
At the end I have one connector without any use (See picture below), I guess it is the original microphone plug (all is working without).
I have stuck the GPS antenna, with double sided tape, between the AC conduits. This place it just below the windscreen, free from metallic parts and with a lower top. Don't forget to remove the two transportation screws (shown with a circle below).

Now we can place the 2 DIN at its new place. The 4 plastic pins help to get the radio at the right place. power on the radio and test the basic function before placing back the 4 cross screws.

USB and iPod cords

The iPod is placed in the front glove compartment as well as the USB plug. Both cords are coming from the radio to the glove box through an exiting hole, by the hinge area.

Radio 2DIN mounted

Unit in use

Main screen

GPS (Sygic)

The GPS software received with this unit is iGo 8.3.4 Europe. Sygic Fleet 2011.03 does it well also. While you are using the GPS, you can listening the radio or iPod (iPhone). The steering wheel buttons are working well to go forward and backward in your playlist.The GPS notifications sound, overlays nicely the iPhone or radio playback, without any cut.

Preferences

With this screen you can:

define the GPS software path.

set to show the time on the screen.

set to mirror the image of the backup camera.

set "Any Key" (launch the unit with any button).

set a Beep when a button is pressed.

set to launch the GPS at start.

set to launch spectrum at start.

set the screen language.

Spectrum

Phone Bluetooth

With this screen you can:

recall the last phone number.

show the call log of this unit.

switch to a private call.

go to BT preferences panel.

connect the BT.

disconnect the BT.

listen music through BT (A2DP).

From the steering wheel it is possible to accept or to finish a phone call (one of this 2 functions, but not both).
Pressing the button 4 you will go to the following screen.

With this screen you can:

define the 4 digit code for pairing your bluetooth devices.

set visible this unit.

reset BT

Radio

Functions:

Band: AM + FM

APS: automatic scan saved channel.

Store: save a frequency.

LOC: local.

ST: stereo.

PTY: programme type.

TA: Traffic announcement service

AF: Alternative frequency

I was not able to get the RDS function to work. Even with this function active, in the option panel.
From the steering wheel it is possible to change the radio frequency and to set the volume.

iPod

By connecting an iPod or an iPhone with the appropriated cord, we can see all the song we are listening. We can chose the music we want to listen by

List

Artist

Album

Genre

Song

Composer

The picture on the left side of the screen is the same for all our song (no music artwork reading).
the navigation through the playlist but works as with an iPod. We can select the music we want to listen. We can go forward and backward from the 2 DIN or from the steering wheel.
No Shuffle function.

Multimedia USB CD DVD

By clicking on Mode, you will change between radio, iPod, Aux, DVD and USB input.
In the USB panel, you will be proposed to navigate through the whole USB directory filtered by multimedia music, photos or movies. Playing Dvix works like all recent multimedia player. The on/off handbrake button, allows to watch movies while driving without the need to connect the "Brake" cable to the ground.
You can play Dvix, DVD, CD and mp3 without any difficulties

Factory preferences (Code 3368)

With this screen you can:

set the volume from each input.

choose the radio area (Europe)

deactivate the handbrake control.

activate the backup camera input (CCD)

activate the RDS service. (not working for me)

activate the TV module (analogue)

power radio and TV antenna

Equalizer

With this screen you can:

set the volume.

set the fader and the balance.

active the Loudness

power the amplifier output.

choose between 6 preset programs.

Standard

Classic

Pop

Rock

Hall

Cinema

Image setting

Steering wheel commands

With this screen you can::

access the preset of the steering wheel commands of some car maker.

programing the steering wheel buttons with the mean of a Wizard. You will asked to:

chose and press a button.

assign a function.

save the selection.

to program another button or exit.

Backup camera installation

I installed the video cable on the driver side, but after to do the all installation, I guess it is better to install the cable on the passenger side.

Video cable installation on the driver side

Remove the plastic protection at the lower area of the door frame. They are fixed with plastic clip and fasteners. No need of special tool to remove the plastic protection. just pull them out. Run the cable into the white latches with the other car wires.

Video cable in the trunk

Cable in the rear light hole

From the trunk to the rear light their are a way to run the cable.
To remove the rear light unit, remove the 2 screw M10 (shown with a yellow rectangle) and pull out the light unit, from the 2 fasteners (shown with a yellow circle).

Run the cable following the blue arrow into the bumper. The cable must exit via the license plate hole. It is easier to draw the video cable with a rigid electric cable or with a draw tape.

Power cable

Remove the passenger rear light unit. It is the only one with the reverse light.
Unplug the grey connector and identify the yellow and the black wires where you have to connect the camera power cable. The yellow wire is the reverse light +12V and the black one the ground.
I have soldered my cable and isolated them with heat shrink Sleeves. The quick splice connectors are not really suitable for those wires because of the small wires diameter, the electric contact is not 100% guaranty.

Pay attention, wires on which we need to do the pickup must be the yellow and the black one.
You have to solder the red wire of the camera on the yellow one and the red/black on the black one.
I have cut the wires and it was easy to protect them with heat shrink Sleeves. Once the connection is soldered and isolated, heat the sleeves with a warm source (bulb for example) they will shrink. Finish the work by isolate the complete cord with isolation tape.
Run the connector to the license plate light hole (next to the video cable)

Connect the camera and fasten it

Connect the camera:

The video RCA plug ( The small red wire is not used for this radio unit).

The red plug (+12V and ground)

Drill the bumper with a 3 - 3,5 mm drill bit.
Screw the camera with 2 butt plate screws.
Drill one small hole into the license light plate, to run the camera cord (see picture below).
Mount back the license light plate

How does it work?

When the reverse is engaged the camera is powered. The camera via the video cable send power to the CCD input and the radio unit switched automatically to the camera backup screen.
During reverse the sound is muted. As soon as the reverse is disengaged, the sound play back again.

Pros of this radio unit:

Very good sound integration between radio/iPod with the GPS software.

Nice user interface.

Up to date processor.

More RAM than by the competitors.

Software button to short cut the handbrake control.

Automatic switch of the reverse camera easy to set.

Steering wheel command easy to set.

Good hardware integration in the Micra (March) cockpit (without adding a fascia panel)

Cons of this 2 Din

Titles (song & video) with special characters are not supported.

Managing mp3 on the USB stick is really painful (titles don't show up and it is really slow).

RDS (name of radio station) is definitely not working.

Each time I receive back my car from the repair shop, the radio show up only a black screen. I have to reset the radio by introducing a paper clip in the little hole just next to eject CD/DVD button.